Horizon's favourite megalomaniac dictator, President Niyazov of Turkmenistan, has a new wheeze up his sleeve: building a giant ice palace in his parched central Asian country.
Posted by Alan Allport at August 11, 2004 04:57 AMWow, now that really is something. Isn't he the fellow who shocked the world recently by having his goons take down all the pictures of his face that had previously been plastered everywhere? Or is that a different megalomaniac?
Posted by: Alan Hogue at August 11, 2004 09:54 AMThat's the one (thanks for the correct spelling of megalomaniac, by the way). He has an on-again, off-again cult of personality that would have embarrassed Stalin, and seems to be at least borderline deranged. He's also the leader of a quiet little corner of the world adjoining Iran and Afghanistan. Pleasant dreams tonight ...
Posted by: Alan Allport at August 11, 2004 10:01 AMHis Foreign Minister has vanished. That's cheery, somehow particularly ominous news.
Posted by: Alan Hogue at August 11, 2004 02:30 PMDoesn't *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory* have Willy Wonka telling the story of a foolish prince commissioning him to build a palace out of chocolate that immediately melted?
Plus ca change.
Posted by: Martha Bridegam at August 11, 2004 03:07 PM